to injure or destroy by insidious activity or imperceptible stages, sometimes tending toward a sudden dramatic effect.

to attack by indirect, secret, or underhand means; attempt to subvert by stealth.

to make an excavation under; dig or tunnel beneath, as a military stronghold.

to weaken or cause to collapse by removing underlying support, as by digging away or eroding the foundation.

verb

strengthen

verb

attenuate , blunt , clip one’s wings , corrode , cripple , debilitate , dig , dig out * , disable , eat away , enfeeble , erode , excavate , foil , frustrate , hollow out , hurt , impair , knock the bottom out of , mine , poke full of holes , ruin , sabotage , sandbag , sap , soften , subvert , threaten , thwart , torpedo * , tunnel , undercut , wear , whittle away , wreck , devitalize , undo , unnerve , weaken , corrupt , demoralize , destroy , drain